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Computers in Biology and Medicine Jan 2022Munro's Microabscess (MM) is the diagnostic hallmark of psoriasis. Neutrophil detection in the Stratum Corneum (SC) of the skin epidermis is an integral part of MM...
Munro's Microabscess (MM) is the diagnostic hallmark of psoriasis. Neutrophil detection in the Stratum Corneum (SC) of the skin epidermis is an integral part of MM detection in skin biopsy. The microscopic inspection of skin biopsy is a tedious task and staining variations in skin histopathology often hinder human performance to differentiate neutrophils from skin keratinocytes. Motivated from this, we propose a computational framework that can assist human experts and reduce potential errors in diagnosis. The framework first segments the SC layer, and multiple patches are sampled from the segmented regions which are classified to detect neutrophils. Both UNet and CapsNet are used for segmentation and classification. Experiments show that of the two choices, CapsNet, owing to its robustness towards better hierarchical object representation and localisation ability, appears as a better candidate for both segmentation and classification tasks and hence, we termed our framework as MICaps. The training algorithm explores both minimisation of Dice Loss and Focal Loss and makes a comparative study between the two. The proposed framework is validated with our in-house dataset consisting of 290 skin biopsy images. Two different experiments are considered. Under the first protocol, only 3-fold cross-validation is done to directly compare the current results with the state-of-the-art ones. Next, the performance of the system on a held-out data set is reported. The experimental results show that MICaps improves the state-of-the-art diagnosis performance by 3.27% (maximum) and reduces the number of model parameters by 50%.
PubMed: 34864301
DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2021.105071 -
The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical... Jul 2013
Topics: Abscess; Adenomyosis; Female; Humans; Hysterectomy; Middle Aged; Sepsis
PubMed: 23768705
DOI: 10.1016/j.kjms.2012.11.009 -
Allergy and Asthma Proceedings Nov 2019Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is defined by symptoms related to esophageal dysfunction, persistent esophageal eosinophilia, and exclusion of other etiologies that may... (Review)
Review
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is defined by symptoms related to esophageal dysfunction, persistent esophageal eosinophilia, and exclusion of other etiologies that may be contributing to the condition. EoE is different from erosive esophagitis. In children, symptoms vary by age groups, such as feeding disorders in 2 year olds; vomiting in 8 year olds; and abdominal pain, dysphagia, and/or food impaction in adolescents. Most adults present with dysphagia, food impaction, heartburn, or chest pain. Common endoscopic features in adults with EoE include linear furrows (creases that orient longitudinally), mucosal rings (esophageal "trachealization"), small-caliber esophagus, white plaques or exudates (which are microabscesses of eosinophils), and strictures. Children often present with similar endoscopic features, yet one-third of pediatric patients with EoE have a normal result in an endoscopic examination. Histologic features of EoE include increased intramucosal eosinophils in the esophagus (≥15 eosinophils per high power field), without similar findings in the stomach or duodenum. There also may be eosinophilic microabscesses. In addition to evidence of mast cell activation, mucosa from patients with EoE have increased levels of interleukin 5; supporting eosinophilia; and upregulation of gene expression of eotaxin-3, a chemokine important in eosinophil migration. The majority of patients have evidence of either aeroallergen and/or food sensitization. Dietary therapy is considered first-line therapy for patients with EoE because it is inexpensive and effective, without requiring pharmacologic therapy. Removal of food antigens has been shown to improve symptoms in patients with EoE. Topical corticosteroids improve esophageal eosinophilia and symptoms, and have become the criterion standard of pharmacotherapy.
Topics: Adolescent; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Age Factors; Child; Child, Preschool; Endoscopy; Eosinophilia; Eosinophilic Esophagitis; Eosinophils; Esophagus; Humans
PubMed: 31690395
DOI: 10.2500/aap.2019.40.4272 -
Journal Der Deutschen Dermatologischen... May 2008
Topics: Abscess; Dermatology; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century; Humans; Physicians; Psoriasis
PubMed: 18445241
DOI: 10.1111/j.1610-0387.2008.06703.x -
Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.) Jul 1997Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a significant cause of morbidity in immunosuppressed patients. It is characterized in the liver by parenchymal microabscesses, usually...
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a significant cause of morbidity in immunosuppressed patients. It is characterized in the liver by parenchymal microabscesses, usually containing CMV-infected cells. However, not all hepatic microabscesses are due to CMV infection. In 1992, we described "mini" microabscess (MMA) syndrome, a distinct clinical syndrome that occurs in transplanted livers. This report analyzes the clinical and laboratory features of 57 cases of MMA syndrome occurring in 52 patients and compares these with 19 biopsy-proven cases of CMV infection. The diagnosis of MMA syndrome can only be made histologically. The microabscesses are smaller and more numerous than in CMV infection, and there are no viral inclusions present. CMV DNA could not be detected in liver biopsy specimens with MMAs by using "nested" polymerase chain reaction (PCR), indicating that MMA syndrome is not caused by CMV infection. The pattern of liver enzyme and bilirubin elevation is predominantly hepatocellular, with transaminase levels elevated, on average, six to eight times the upper limit of normal. The clinical features of MMA syndrome are that it predominantly affects female (40 of 52 patients) orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) recipients of all ages (range, 11 months to 66.9 years). MMA syndrome is unrelated to the indication for initial OLT and tends to occur later after transplantation than CMV infection (median, 91 days post-OLT vs. 32 days for CMV hepatitis). Although the etiology of MMA syndrome is not clear, it does not appear to adversely affect graft or patient survival.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Alanine Transaminase; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Biopsy; Child; Child, Preschool; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Infant; Liver Abscess; Liver Transplantation; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Sex Factors; Survival Rate; Syndrome; Time Factors
PubMed: 9214469
DOI: 10.1002/hep.510260125 -
Computational and Mathematical Methods... 2012Bacterial infections can be of two types: acute or chronic. The chronic bacterial infections are characterized by being a large bacterial infection and/or an infection...
Bacterial infections can be of two types: acute or chronic. The chronic bacterial infections are characterized by being a large bacterial infection and/or an infection where the bacteria grows rapidly. In these cases, the immune response is not capable of completely eliminating the infection which may lead to the formation of a pattern known as microabscess (or abscess). The microabscess is characterized by an area comprising fluids, bacteria, immune cells (mainly neutrophils), and many types of dead cells. This distinct pattern of formation can only be numerically reproduced and studied by models that capture the spatiotemporal dynamics of the human immune system (HIS). In this context, our work aims to develop and implement an initial computational model to study the process of microabscess formation during a bacterial infection.
Topics: Abscess; Algorithms; Apoptosis; Bacterial Infections; Computer Simulation; Cytokines; Humans; Immune System; Macrophages; Models, Biological; Models, Theoretical; Neutrophils; Time Factors
PubMed: 23197993
DOI: 10.1155/2012/736394 -
Reumatologia 2019Rheumatoid neutrophilic dermatitis is a rare extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis, both seropositive and seronegative for rheumatoid factor. The...
Rheumatoid neutrophilic dermatitis is a rare extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis, both seropositive and seronegative for rheumatoid factor. The condition most often presents as symmetric erythematous papules, nodules, plaques, and urticaria-like lesions in patients with severe, long-lasting rheumatoid arthritis. We report a case of a 65-year-old man with well-controlled rheumatoid arthritis, who developed rheumatoid neutrophilic dermatitis on the right lower leg. The biopsy of skin lesions revealed an intense, neutrophilic dermal infiltrate, microabscesses, and leukocytoclasis without vasculitis. The patient responded well to pulses of intravenous methylprednisolone. We present this patient due to the rarity of the disease and atypical unilateral manifestation involving the flexural surfaces of the lower leg.
PubMed: 32226170
DOI: 10.5114/reum.2019.90363 -
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology Mar 2014The lack of a generally accepted animal model for human psoriasis has hindered progress with respect to understanding the pathogenesis of the disease. Here we present a...
The lack of a generally accepted animal model for human psoriasis has hindered progress with respect to understanding the pathogenesis of the disease. Here we present a model in which transgenic IL-17A expression is targeted to the skin in mice, achievable after crossing our IL-17A(ind) allele to the K14-Cre strain. K14-IL-17A(ind/+) mice invariably develop an overt skin inflammation bearing many hallmark characteristics of human psoriasis including dermal infiltration of effector T cells, formation of neutrophil microabscesses, and hyperkeratosis. IL-17A expression in the skin results in upregulated granulopoiesis and migration of IL-6R-expressing neutrophils into the skin. Neutralization of IL-6 signaling efficiently reduces the observed pathogenesis in skin of IL-17A-overexpressing mice, with marked reductions in epidermal neutrophil abscess formation and epidermal thickening. Thus, IL-6 functions downstream of IL-17A to exacerbate neutrophil microabscess development in psoriasiform lesions.
Topics: Abscess; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Epidermis; Gene Expression; Granulocytes; Interleukin-17; Interleukin-6; Macrophages; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Neutrophils; Psoriasis; Receptors, Interleukin-6; Signal Transduction; T-Lymphocytes
PubMed: 24067382
DOI: 10.1038/jid.2013.404 -
Fukushima Journal of Medical Science Dec 1991Munro's microabscess of psoriasis has been generally considered to be composed of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs). However, the cell-components of the microabscess...
Munro's microabscess of psoriasis has been generally considered to be composed of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs). However, the cell-components of the microabscess has not been fully clarified. To identify the presence of mononuclear cells (MNCs) in Munro's microabscess and the subcorneal pustule of pustular psoriasis, we observed psoriatic lesions histologically and immunohistologically. Morphologically a few MNCs were found among PMNs and they seemed to include Langerhans cells (CD1a+), helper/inducer T cells (CD4+, CD5+), and macrophages (CD14+) which expressed HLA-DR. Some of them seemed to produce gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-8. The keratinocytes surrounding the microabscess also had IL-8 and some epidermal cells of the proliferated epidermal papillae also expressed IL-6 and IL-8 in psoriatic lesions. The production of IL-6 and IL-8 is considered to effect both chemotaxis and the proliferation of epidermal cells. The presence of these cytokines also suggests that MNCs exist in Munro's microabscess and that they might contribute to the microabscess formation of psoriatic lesions.
Topics: Abscess; Chemotactic Factors; Cytokines; Humans; Monocytes; Neutrophils; Psoriasis
PubMed: 1823882
DOI: No ID Found -
Frontiers in Immunology 2019TLR2 signaling plays a critical protective role against acute (Lm) infection by up-regulating inflammatory cytokines and promoting macrophage antimicrobial...
TLR2 signaling plays a critical protective role against acute (Lm) infection by up-regulating inflammatory cytokines and promoting macrophage antimicrobial capabilities. However, the underlying mechanism by which TLR2 regulates hepatic macrophage-mediated anti-Lm immune responses remains poorly understood. In this study, we found that both the absolute number and proportion of monocyte/macrophage (Mo/MΦ) in the liver and spleen of mice were significantly lower compared to wild type mice. Changes in TLR2 signaling in both hepatocytes and Mo/MΦs were associated with the infiltration of Mo/MΦs in response to Lm-infection. Analyses by proteome profiler array and ELISA revealed that hepatocytes recruited Mo/MΦs via TLR2-dependent secretion of CCL2 and CXCL1, which was confirmed by receptor blocking and exogenous chemokine administration. Importantly, we found that TLR2 contributed to macrophage mobility in the liver through a TLR2/NO/F-actin pathway, facilitating the formation of macrophage-associated hepatic microabscesses. Moreover, TLR2 activation induced the expression of several PRRs on hepatic macrophages associated with the recognition of Lm and augmented macrophage bacterial clearance activity. Our findings provide insight into the intrinsic mechanisms of TLR2-induced Mo/MΦ migration and mobility, as well as the interaction between macrophages and hepatocytes in resistance to Lm infection.
Topics: Animals; Listeria monocytogenes; Listeriosis; Liver; Liver Abscess; Macrophages; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Monocytes; Toll-Like Receptor 2
PubMed: 31297109
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01388